Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Kaua’i: Strolling through the Garden (Isle)

Lush green pastures and fields carpet its low lands while emerald rain forests, thick with tropical plants, cascade from its towering peaks. Along its Northshore, where we’ve been staying, it is quite clear why the island got its nickname.

Here the rainfall comes with regularity. Mother Nature’s has doused the area with a daily downpour or two, intermixed with brief sprinkles that freshen the air and scatter liquid diamonds far and wide.

(The Princeville area where we are staying gets 60 – 80 inches of rain annually and nearby Hanalei averages 80 – 120 inches.)

Kauai's North Shore

Thanks to winds and waves, seeds and spores were brought to these islands centuries ago (along with the help of migratory birds). So when the Polynesians -- rowing their double-hulled dugout canoes -- arrived back in AD 500 the islands were already lush with flora and fauna. Today, however, more than 100 of those 1,300 indigenous plants are now extinct and another 273 are on the endangered list.

We pass a rainbow of colors in the hibiscus plants that line the walkways of the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas where we are staying. The yellow hibiscus (Pua Aloala or Ma’o Hau Hele in Hawaiian) has since 1988 been the Hawaiian State Flower. Its shrub-like bushes bloom every day but each bloom lasts but a day. Some accounts say it came to Kauai from Africa.

There are only two types of scented white hibiscus, Kokio KeoKeo, and they’re only found on Hawaii’s O’ahu, Kaua’i and Moloka’i islands. The one pictured above is of a scent-less variety.

You’ll find many Ti plants in gardens around Hawaiian homes as well as filling this resort’s gardens. They are believed to bring good luck. Those leaves are multi-purpose and can be used to make sandals, clothing and also are used as the outer wrapping of the Hawaiian dish, lau- lau.

The Hala or “canoe’ plant grows as big as a tree around here. I used the zoom lens to capture this bowling ball-sized fruit that was tucked up among the leaves high above me. The Hala is believed to have been brought here by the Polynesians (thus its name, ‘canoe plant’). It is hardy enough to stand the salt sea air so grows well close to the sea. Woven products make use of its leaves and that ‘fruit’ has small tips that are edible.

While speaking of trees, it seems Hawaii’s trees even sport bouquets of blooms. . . .

It is easy to be waylaid no matter what your destination if the trip involves a route through the gardens. . .and there don’t seem to be any routes that don’t meander through gardens on this island.

One of my favorite plants are the ginger, both red and pink. They are believed to have been introduced here from Melanesia sometime before the 1930’s. Their Hawaiian name is awapuhi-‘ula’ula. (Ever used Paul Mitchell’s Awapuhi shampoo? You know its ingredient now, if you have.)

Writing about the gardens – especially the gardens that stretch for acres through the resort compounds here – wouldn’t be complete without kudos to the staff members charged with tending them. There’s a team of ladies ( over 50 years of age) who spend their work days folded up like accordions, their bottoms hovering inches above the ground – for hours on end – as they snip, dig, and groom these gardens. There are similar work teams, in terms of age and agility, working throughout the island.

That’s it for this week. I’ll show you our Kauai homes-away- from-home in future posts. We are staying in ‘luxury-digs-for-less’ thanks to The Scout who found some great rates – and we’ll tell you where we found them.

Hi Jackie, Aloha! I love Kuai and I was so excited when I see the title of your post. Thank you for taking us on a lovely stroll through this garden. It looks like Eden. Your collection of flowers - especially the hibiscus in differnt colors - is just stunning.

Hi Jackie...love the lushness. Those hibiscus are gorgeous. My back hurts just seeing a photo of that lady hunched down like that; not a job that I am going to aspire to. Looking forward to more posts!

It was most enjoyable being transported to Kauai. It is a lush and beautiful and how great that you have luxury accommodation. I find it interesting to hear that woman are the gardeners. Continued enjoymentHelen x

Kauai looks to be a corner of paradise and we have so enjoyed being taken on a tour by you from the comfort of our armchairs. The gardeners do deserve praise for all their efforts. The level of maintenance looks to be amazingly high.

They simply seem to groom these gardens. . .weeds are unknown as these hunched over teams work their way from one end of the property to the other. Equally as impressive are the numbers of blooms found growing wild throughout the island. Glad you enjoyed your armchair tour - I'll take you on another soon!

Firstly, your photos are extraordinary; the macros of all the beautiful flowers are amazing! Jackie, since I know you are the designated 'scribe' to Joel's 'skipper', I am enchanted with your eloquence, '...brief sprinkles that freshen the air and scatter liquid diamonds far and wide'!! Kauai certainly is a tropical treasure island, with so much lush and rich vegetation, it is almost unreal! How lucky you are to have experienced it up close, and how lucky we are to have had the pleasure of following you!

Jackie and Joel, Gosh I love those flower shots...so pretty. I can smell Hawaii. It's one of those places that always smells like flowers to me. Beautiful. Thanks for linking up with Weekend Travel Inspiration!

Mahalo for your gorgeous pics! Kauai is very special for the hubby and me. We spent our honeymoon there as well as our 10 year anniversary. It was the first Hawaiian island that I visited, too. I'll never forget how I felt when I first landed in Paradise.

We almost came here for our honeymoon but didn't and then came often in the early 80's and haven't really been back since then. It is such a spectacularly beautiful island that it takes your breath away at times! Thanks for the visit, Cathy!

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In our 35 years together, we've logged thousands of air and sea miles exploring far-away and close-to-home destinations. We quit our '8 - 5' jobs more than a dozen years ago. . .long before retirement age.

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